Re: EPUB converter
Hi Jürgen, Thank you for the message. As for my time usage, I have already built the external converter, because I have books that are on a publishing schedule, and they need to get out there. My question is where I go from here. I'm not sure if the LyX team realizes just how many self-publishing authors are out there in the world. It is a very large number. When I joined the Self-Publishing School (with thousands of students all writing books), I found that nobody even knew about LyX. I think authors should be using LyX, but it needs to be easier, and EPUB/Kindle is absolutely mandatory. I am willing to talk with the guy who is writing the EPUB output, and help him make it better. Even if only to serve as a consultant, since a) I'm a developer with decades of experience, b) I'm a published book author, and c) I've written a fully-working external converter from LyXHTML to EPUB. Given all of that, I think I can be of service to the LyX project, at least in some capacity. Can you please put me in touch with the individual that I should speak with? Many thanks, *Ken Kopelson* (619) 733-3374 On Sun, Mar 6, 2022 at 1:09 AM Jürgen Spitzmüller via lyx-users < lyx-users@lists.lyx.org> wrote: > Am Samstag, dem 05.03.2022 um 12:47 -0800 schrieb Ken Kopelson via lyx- > users: > > Does anyone know how I can get in touch with the people who are > > working on the EPUB export in version 2.4? > > Via the lyx-devel list. EPUB is Thibaut's field who has re-implemented > DocBook support completely for 2.4.0, and epub on top of that. > > > I want to gauge if it will be worth it for me to put my converter > > out. This will depend on: > > > > 1) When 2.4 will be released > > Nobody can answer this seriously at the moment. 2.4 is basically done, > but there is no release schedule yet and many developers are busy with > their real lifes. > > > 2) How good the EPUB export will be > > I suggest you checkout LyX 2.4.x from the repository yourself, try and > report back. I don't think it has been heavily tested except by the > person you implemented it. > > Generally I'd say your time would be better invested in helping to > improve LyX's own EPUB output than building an external converter. And > feedback on how to improve the epub output is certainly most welcome. > > Best, > Jürgen > > > -- > lyx-users mailing list > lyx-users@lists.lyx.org > http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users > -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
Re: EPUB converter
Well, regardless of any other issues, I have a fully working LyXHTML => EPUB/Kindle converter. It was written in Python because a) it was fast to develop, b) it runs plenty fast, and c) Python had the perfect libraries for parsing HTML and generating EPUB. Item (c) then led to FAST TO DEVELOP. I have books to publish, and I can't sit around waiting for some ideal, perfect solution. Speaking of which, I did run into a problem with the LyXHTML export from LyX. The other HTML exports from LyX all include the output contained in Tex Code insets, while the LyXHTML export does not. This creates a problem for using any kind of /lettrine or "initials" functionality in your book, which is quite a problem. What I did to fix the problem is include a configurable table in the converter that automatically includes the starting text for each paragraph. Anytime I would change the first words of a paragraph, I would have to make a change in the converter's configuration file, changing the text there also. This is obviously extremely hacky, but it does get the job done. If only the LyX team would fix the LyXHTML export so it includes any text in a Tex Code block, ideally executing the Tex Code so it properly adjusts the text size, that would be ideal. The regular HTML export does this, so it should be easy to just port that code over to the LyXHTML export. At least, one would hope so. *Ken Kopelson* (619) 733-3374 On Sun, Mar 6, 2022 at 5:31 PM Steve Litt via lyx-users < lyx-users@lists.lyx.org> wrote: > Dr Eberhard Lisse via lyx-users said on Sun, 6 Mar 2022 21:24:57 +0200 > > >Steve, > > > >Since it such a schlepp, why don't you participate in the development > >or support the developers? > > LyX is great software by a great project. Great projects can be very bad > in certain respects, and that doesn't prevent them from being great > projects. As you read my response to your question, please keep in mind > that I'm very grateful to LyX for being the tool that created at least > 8 of the books I currently offer. My responses merely point out how > LyX could be much better in the area of exports. Here are, my answers > are enumerated below. > > 1) The converter must be semantic. It must keep styles as styles til >the very end, not prematurely convert to appearance. The LyX native >format is hostile to that goal, and since 2007 the LyX devs have >shown little interest in that goal. > > 2) File conversion software has no business being written in C++ plus >Qt. Python, Lua, Ruby, Perl or *maybe* simple C are the right way to >go, at least for version 1. If performance became a problem, and I >doubt it would, it could be rewritten in C. Years ago I stopped >using both C++ and Java because, in my opinion, they both suck. > > 3) Simplicity is an asset. Conceptually all that need be done is create >Xhtml5 tags with the same names as the environments and insets. But >that's not what I've seen from the LyX (X)HTML exports in the past >decade. Simplicity is an asset: The conversion software should be >separate and distinct from LyX, with a very thin interface. > > 3.1: Content in semantic Xhtml5 can be converted to anything. > > 4) If I had time to help the LyX devs, I'd have time to singlehandedly >create a Markdown=>Xhtml=>ePub and Markdown=>Xhtml=>PlainTeX=>PDF >software stack. The QOwnNotes software is already a great typing >front end for Markdown, which is why I chose Markdown. With the >Markdown based converter done, I could turn around and easily create >an Asciidoc version. > > 5) I could have, offered to, and would have written the converter for >the LyX project, if only they had followed through with their mid >00's plan of making LyX an XML dialect. They refused to do so. > > Bottom line, in my opinion, the LyX project is the wrong project to > build the LyX to ePub (or to (X)HTML) converter. Alex Fernandez was > right about that when he built eLyXer, and IMHO eLyXer was better than > the native LyX converter at that time, but eLyXer was only half > semantic. > > If the LyX project can export to some completely semantic XML, I'll be > glad to join the team who does the conversion from there. > > > >Never mind that LyX seems to predate the Kindle, this is a LaTeX issue > >rather than a LyX one (which, after all, just a front end). > > Tragically, you've just uncovered the main problem. As long as LyX is > considered a front end to *LaTeX*, there will never be a good, robust > LyX=>ePub. Only when LyX is considered a front end to *everything* > will semantic ePub, as well as conversions to formats we haven't yet > dreamed of, be possible. > > >As written numerous times I am ve
Re: EPUB converter
Does anyone know how I can get in touch with the people who are working
on the EPUB export in version 2.4? I want to gauge if it will be worth it
for me to put my converter out. This will depend on:
1) When 2.4 will be released
2) How good the EPUB export will be
Any help on this would be appreciated. Even telling who I can contact about
this.
Many thanks,
*Ken Kopelson*
(619) 733-3374
On Thu, Mar 3, 2022 at 5:29 AM Dr Eberhard Lisse via lyx-users <
lyx-users@lists.lyx.org> wrote:
> Ken,
>
> where is the missing link :-)-O?
>
>
> This is great news.
>
> I am actually waiting for 2.4 and DocBook to convert my 859
> page "handbook" to EPUB so my staff and I can carry it around on our
> Kindles (App on iPad actually).
>
> But, I would be very keen to see how your package works.
>
> My little handbook doesn't really need anything fancier than a few
> images (JPG, PNG and PDF).
>
> I also use (in one (common) "include.tex") something like
>
> \usepackage{etoolbox}
> \newbool{business}
> \boolfalse{business}
> \newbool{private}
> \booltrue{private}
>
> but if that (see your below remark) were not to work I can address that
> via a Makefile and different include (front matter) files as you seem to
> be doing.
>
> Maybe you can look into that, because then you can have a single include
> file by putting something like this into a Makefile
>
> bus:
> @perl -i -p \
> -e 's/\\boolfalse\{business\}/\\booltrue\{business\}/g;'
> \
> -e 's/\\booltrue\{private\}/\\boolfalse\{private\}/g;' \
> include.tex
> @lyx -f -e pdf5 handbook.lyx
>
> priv:
> @perl -i -p \
> -e 's/\\booltrue\{business\}/\\boolfalse\{business\}/g;'
> \
> -e 's/\\boolfalse\{private\}/\\booltrue\{private\}/g;' \
> include.tex
> @lyx -f -e pdf5 handbook.lyx
>
> and then use something like
>
> \ifbool{business}{}{\include{business.tex}}
> \ifbool{private}{\include{private.tex}}{}
>
> as ERT.
>
> Looks complicated, is complicated, but once it works no further
> touching required.
>
>
>
> In the meantime I have pulled
>
> http://www.editorium.com/ftp/LyXBookSampler.zip
>
> from
>
> https://wiki.lyx.org/Layouts/Layouts
>
> and will start some RTFM :-)-O
>
> greetings, el
>
>
> On 03/03/2022 00:58, Ken Kopelson via lyx-users wrote:
> > Hello LyX users,
> >
> > I am sending this email to let people know that I have produced a
> > converter for LyX that produces an excellent quality EPUB/Kindle file.
> [...]
> > I love using LyX with the LyXBook theme (as it has the greatest number
> > of paragraph formats), and I am able to set up a system of files,
> > having different Front Matter versions.
> [...]
> > I know that the next version of LyX is supposed to produce EPUB,
> [...]
> > As one final problem, the LyXHTML export fails to include anything in
> > the LaTeK code blocks,
> --
> To email me replace 'nospam' with 'el'
>
> --
> lyx-users mailing list
> lyx-users@lists.lyx.org
> http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
>
--
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EPUB converter
Hello LyX users, I am sending this email to let people know that I have produced a converter for LyX that produces an excellent quality EPUB/Kindle file. This converter takes the LyXHTML file exported from LyX, and spits out an EPUB file that fully supports Kindle importing. This splits the single export file from LyX into the multiple chapters, supporting Front Matter, Main Matter, and Back Matter. It builds a List of Figures, Table of Contents, and moves all Footnotes to become Chapter Endnotes, which Kindle will show in a separate window at the bottom of the screen. All backlinks are included also. I love using LyX with the LyXBook theme (as it has the greatest number of paragraph formats), and I am able to set up a system of files, having different Front Matter versions. Unless you have actually self-published a book, you will not fully appreciate how important it is to have different Front Matter versions for a single book. A single published book can have Hardback, Softcover, PDF, EPUB, and Kindle versions, all of which require different information at the front of the book. LyX allows me to set up a system for this. The only problem was, I could not produce an EPUB or Kindle version from the files, so I had to create my own converter. I use the LyXHTML export because it has tag classes for each type of element in the files, allowing me to make the correct decisions for processing and producing the EPUB or Kindle format. I know that the next version of LyX is supposed to produce EPUB, but I have my doubts that it will be done in a way that produces high-quality Kindle books, since I have now learned just how to do this. I can tell you that NONE of the current tools out there for creating EPUBS does this conversion correctly or completely. The new tool I have created does. Just so people are aware, there is a large and growing market of people self-publishing their own books. I am doing my best to get authors turned on to using LyX as their book-writing tool. If anyone is interested in helping me get the code I've written out there so that other authors can have the ability to automatically produce perfect EPUB and Kindle, please let me know. As one final problem, the LyXHTML export fails to include anything in the LaTeK code blocks, and where this really shows up is with the Lettrine function for Initials at the start of each Chapter. This initial text is just omitted from the export file. The other HTML export includes them, but it does not have any of the LyX class information for each tag, so it is useless for conversion. Is there a way this can be fixed? It would be awesome if this text is not excluded, since it is very much part of the material. I had to come up with a very kludgy workaround for this in my converter, which really should not be there. I am happy to work with whoever is doing the EPUB portion of the next release. My problem was, I could not wait for that to come out. Life must go on, as they say :) All the Best, *Ken Kopelson* (619) 733-3374 -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
LyX won't create Index
Hi List, First, this is concerning the latest LyX (2.3.6.1), along with the latest MiKTeK (21.6/7) on Windows 10. I use LyX on both MacOS, and on Windows. Today I tried to generate an Index using the LyXBook class that has been working very well up to this point. I was able to generate an index in the past on my MacBook, but it doesn't seem to work now on my Windows 10 machine. I insert the Index Entry, and also the Index List, as per the instructions in the User Guide. The Index pages are just empty. Is there something else I need to do? Regards, *Ken Kopelson* -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
Re: Fwd: PDF Page Size
I have found your LyXBook layouts to be very good, and I very much appreciate the work you did on them. The one issue I had, which was addressed here by Daniel, is the way it didn't respond to changes in the page size using the standard page size settings... when using the MiKTek system. Best Regards, *Ken* On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 10:03 AM Jack Lyon wrote: > Greetings, all. > > I'm the creator of LyXBook, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you > may have about it. > > When I first created the LyXBook layouts, I licensed some of them based on > the purchase of my Microsoft Word add-in LyXConverter, which converts Word > documents into LyX documents: > > https://wiki.lyx.org/Tools/LyXConverter > > However, I'm changing those licenses to be the same as that used for LyX > itself, the GNU General Public License: > > https://www.lyx.org/License > > That means you can freely use and distribute any of the LyXBook layouts > (including those that are part of LyXConverter) any way you please. I hope > you find them useful. > > Thanks to all of you for making LyX such a great piece of software. > > Best wishes, > Jack Lyon > The Editorium > http://www.editorium.com > > > > On 10/19/2021 10:29 AM, Ken Kopelson wrote: > > If anyone has information about LyXBook, here is where I found out about > it: > > LyX wiki | Layouts / Layouts <https://wiki.lyx.org/Layouts/Layouts> > > So, the official LyX wiki shows quite a few options when it comes to > layouts. Under the section on "book" layouts, you will find this entry: > > >- LyXBook <http://www.editorium.com/ftp/LyXBookSampler.zip> is a >collection of layouts from the Editorium <http://www.editorium.com/> > designed >specifically for typesetting books in LyX (novels, histories, biographies, >and so on). > > > > On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 4:24 AM Daniel wrote: > >> On 18/10/2021 01:12, Dr Eberhard Lisse wrote: >> > >> > On 2021-10-15 16:38 , Daniel wrote: >> >> On 15/10/2021 13:07, Dr Eberhard Lisse wrote: >> >>> On 15/10/2021 07:57, Ken Kopelson wrote: >> > [...] >> >>> What is the LyXBook class? Or if it refers to the layout, where did >> >>> you get it from? >> > >> > What is the LyXBook class? >> >> As I wrote in my reply, it is derived from memoir. >> >> Daniel >> >> -- >> lyx-users mailing list >> lyx-users@lists.lyx.org >> http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users >> > > > -- > lyx-users mailing list > lyx-users@lists.lyx.org > http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users > -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
Re: Fwd: PDF Page Size
If anyone has information about LyXBook, here is where I found out about it: LyX wiki | Layouts / Layouts <https://wiki.lyx.org/Layouts/Layouts> So, the official LyX wiki shows quite a few options when it comes to layouts. Under the section on "book" layouts, you will find this entry: - LyXBook <http://www.editorium.com/ftp/LyXBookSampler.zip> is a collection of layouts from the Editorium <http://www.editorium.com/> designed specifically for typesetting books in LyX (novels, histories, biographies, and so on). On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 4:24 AM Daniel wrote: > On 18/10/2021 01:12, Dr Eberhard Lisse wrote: > > > > On 2021-10-15 16:38 , Daniel wrote: > >> On 15/10/2021 13:07, Dr Eberhard Lisse wrote: > >>> On 15/10/2021 07:57, Ken Kopelson wrote: > > [...] > >>> What is the LyXBook class? Or if it refers to the layout, where did > >>> you get it from? > > > > What is the LyXBook class? > > As I wrote in my reply, it is derived from memoir. > > Daniel > > -- > lyx-users mailing list > lyx-users@lists.lyx.org > http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users > -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
Re: Fwd: PDF Page Size
Thanks Dr., but honestly, the Windows setup I have kicks butt on the other
TWO Macbook Pros I have, so I'll stick with Windows, thanks :) (It has
64GB of RAM) In fact, the name of my Windows machine is "BEEFY BEAST", if
that tells you anything...
Also, as I indicated in my final email to Daniel, he nailed the solution,
and I was very thankful and happy for the assistance.
I sent his solution to the list so that others could see how to fix this
problem. I feel bad that you missed seeing that last email, and therefore
took time to try and help me. I do thank you for your efforts, and wish
you an excellent day and weekend!
Regards,
-Ken
On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 4:08 AM Dr Eberhard Lisse wrote:
> Ken,
>
> the answer is obvious, don't use Windows :-)-O
>
>
> But, I don't think it has anything to do with LyX but rather is a LaTeX
> issue, and guessing of setting a default page size installation wide.
>
> The LeX Live Manager app on the Mac has the option
>
> Configure --> Change Paper Size
>
> which is the default for all documents if nothing else is specified, in
> a document, which then overrides.
>
> I have no clue what MikTeX Windows does and whether it allows override.
> Could be set with admin privilege or some other issue.
>
> What is the LyXBook class? Or if it refers to the layout, where did you
> get it from?
>
> I find Koma Script much better and easier that memoir and have switched
> some years ago. That may be opinion, but try it out :-)-O
>
> el
>
>
>
> On 15/10/2021 07:57, Ken Kopelson wrote:
> > FYI
> > -- Forwarded message -
> > From: *Ken Kopelson* mailto:kenb...@gmail.com>>
> > Date: Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 10:55 PM
> > Subject: Re: PDF Page Size
> > To: racoon mailto:xraco...@gmx.de>>
> >
> >
> > Thank you SO MUCH Daniel! Your suggestion fixed the problem for me,
> > and it works beautifully now!
> >
> > Many thanks again,
> > *Ken Kopelson*
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 12:20 PM racoon xraco...@gmx.de>> wrote:
> >
> > It seems that your class is based on the memoir class. It might
> > be that the settings in Document > Settings > Page Layout which
> > use the geometry package are not working well with that class.
> > Unfortunately, I have never worked with the memoir class. From a
> > little reading in the memoir class documentation
> > (
> https://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/CTAN/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/memman.pdf)
> > I gathered that you might try to add
> >
> > \setstocksize{9in}{6in}
> >
> > in Document > Settings > Preamble. Does that help?
> >
> > Daniel
> >
> >
> > On 2021-10-14 20:24, Ken Kopelson wrote:
> > > Thanks Daniel. It seems to have something to do with the
> > > inserted image. I'm using the LyXBook class, which I've also
> > > included with this small test file. I use the Layout as a
> > > local in the same directory as the .lyx file.
> > >
> > > -Ken
> [...]
>
>
> --
> To email me replace 'nospam' with 'el'
>
> --
> lyx-users mailing list
> lyx-users@lists.lyx.org
> http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
>
--
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Fwd: PDF Page Size
FYI
-- Forwarded message -
From: Ken Kopelson
Date: Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: PDF Page Size
To: racoon
Thank you SO MUCH Daniel! Your suggestion fixed the problem for me, and it
works beautifully now!
Many thanks again,
*Ken Kopelson*
On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 12:20 PM racoon wrote:
> It seems that your class is based on the memoir class. It might be that
> the settings in Document > Settings > Page Layout which use the geometry
> package are not working well with that class. Unfortunately, I have
> never worked with the memoir class. From a little reading in the memoir
> class documentation
> (https://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/CTAN/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/memman.pdf
> ),
> I gathered that you might try to add
>
> \setstocksize{9in}{6in}
>
> in Document > Settings > Preamble. Does that help?
>
> Daniel
>
>
> On 2021-10-14 20:24, Ken Kopelson wrote:
> > Thanks Daniel. It seems to have something to do with the inserted
> > image. I'm using the LyXBook class, which I've also included with this
> > small test file. I use the Layout as a local in the same directory as
> > the .lyx file.
> >
> > -Ken
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 7:04 AM Daniel > <mailto:xraco...@gmx.de>> wrote:
> >
> > On 13/10/2021 22:37, Ken Kopelson wrote:
> > > Hello all,
> > > I am really hoping that one of you brilliant people can answer
> this
> > > question concerning page size for PDFs.
> > >
> > > First, this is concerning the latest LyX (2.3.6.1), along with the
> > > latest MiKTeK (21.6/7) on Windows 10. I use LyX on both MacOS,
> > and on
> > > Windows. It is the Windows version that fails to do the right
> thing.
> > >
> > > When I set a page size using the MacOS LyX, (using the
> > > document->settings->Page Layout) to something like 9 inches
> > height x 6
> > > inches width, and then export the document to PDF, it produces a
> > > document that is the dimensions I requested, and all PDF viewers
> > show it
> > > correctly.
> > >
> > > Then, if I do the exact same thing in the Windows version, and
> > export
> > > the document to PDF, it produces a document that is Letter Size
> > (8.5" x
> > > 11"), regardless of the settings in the Page Layout.
> > >
> > > This creates quite a problem, and makes it impossible to make an
> > eBook
> > > PDF. Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug that needs to
> > be fixed?
> > >
> > > Many thanks for your time in answering my question.
> > > Ken Kopelson
> >
> > Seems to work fine here on Windows (though I am using TeX Live). Mind
> > sending a document that where it does not work for you?
> >
> > Daniel
> >
> > --
> > lyx-users mailing list
> > lyx-users@lists.lyx.org <mailto:lyx-users@lists.lyx.org>
> > http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
> > <http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users>
> >
>
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PDF Page Size
Hello all, I am really hoping that one of you brilliant people can answer this question concerning page size for PDFs. First, this is concerning the latest LyX (2.3.6.1), along with the latest MiKTeK (21.6/7) on Windows 10. I use LyX on both MacOS, and on Windows. It is the Windows version that fails to do the right thing. When I set a page size using the MacOS LyX, (using the document->settings->Page Layout) to something like 9 inches height x 6 inches width, and then export the document to PDF, it produces a document that is the dimensions I requested, and all PDF viewers show it correctly. Then, if I do the exact same thing in the Windows version, and export the document to PDF, it produces a document that is Letter Size (8.5" x 11"), regardless of the settings in the Page Layout. This creates quite a problem, and makes it impossible to make an eBook PDF. Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug that needs to be fixed? Many thanks for your time in answering my question. Ken Kopelson -- lyx-users mailing list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org http://lists.lyx.org/mailman/listinfo/lyx-users
